If learning to learn is all there is, why have a teacher?

In part three of the recently
held webinar at Glenvale’s Swan Hill campus, Hugo Vaughan spoke about what a
flipped classroom is and the role of the teacher for the self-directed learner.

Learning to learn is a curriculum
neutral way of teaching. It doesn’t matter what content is on Canvas and it’s
irrelevant what NSW or Victoria want, says Mr Vaughan. OneSchool has a
different path for getting there. It is important to know that no matter what
the content is, or what the curriculum is, it’s important that students can be self
directed in their learning.

Then here is the flipped
classroom, which is where the work is available beforehand and students come to
classroom already knowing what is contained in the lesson.

“Students can say, ‘I’ve learnt
it all. I understand it’. Done, go home, next thing,” says Mr Vaughan. “But not
all students can cope with that. In a flipped classroom environment, those
students that understand it can carry on with their work in other subjects
where they’re not as proficient.”

And this is where teachers
start to earn their money because they start helping out those that need the
most.

“Teachers get more time to
spend with students that don’t understand during lesson time,” says Mr Vaughan.
“Lesson time is also when teachers get to unpack some of those difficult
questions. We are not getting rid of the skill of teaching, what we are saying
is that for 50 minutes we focus on the stuff they don’t understand.”

The other thing about a flipped
classroom is that teachers get to do a whole lot less work. Why?

“Because if I’m a teacher and
I have a flipped classroom I’m going to say to a student, ‘Hey Zoe, you’re
going to be presenting to the class what you have learned, and if they have any
questions I’m going to be directing them to you’. Do you think a student will
be prepared for that lesson? Absolutely. Why? Because they do not want to look
stupid in front on their friends. A flipped model puts it back on the students
so they can learn the skill of being organised on time. It’s also about attitude
towards work.”

The teacher basically becomes
a facilitator in these situations. If you ask students to research volcanoes,
the first thing they do is go on Google.

“The teacher’s role is to let the children
know if the information is correct and true whether the website is a credible
source,” said Mr Vaughan. “Any organisation can push its agenda through a
website. It is the teacher’s role to make sure the information they have in the
internet is correct. Students need to learn to analysis the information and
decide whether it is true. Is it going to answer my questions? Is it
appropriate? Am I wasting my time on this? That is the teacher’s role and it is
a tremendous skill.”